Nursing bottle support



May 12, 1953 w. BATTLE NURSING BOTTLE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 11, 1950Inventor WINGATE BATTLE necting member II. The end members may be of anypreferred formation, but are preferably formed triangular in contour, asindicated in Fig. 1, thus providing an extended base Illa with the sidesIn?) of similar length united in an apical zone positioned opposite thebase and into which the ends of the connecting member are secured. Themember If) is preferably of skeleton type, as shown, thus combiningstrength with light weight, the end members being formed of suit ablematerial, such as plastic or metal, to provide the desired stability instructure. In practice, the base side is positioned on the supportingsurface such as a bed or crib. The assemblage may also be supportedpractically on the ground if a suitable underlying pad or the like ispositioned for the infant to rest on.

The connecting member II is of suitable length, being at leastsuflicient to span the torso zone of the infant, the end members beingdimensioned to locate member II some distance above the torso of theprone infant. It is preferred, however, that member I I be of increasedlength as compared with the members of prior structures of this type,since it is one of the features of the invention that the infant willhave some freedom of movement laterally to avoid creating any irritatingfeeling of being cramped with a tendency to make the infant fretful andrestless. In both forms, the member II is secured to the upper apicalzones of the end members in such manner as to prevent rotation of memberII. Any suitable means for securing this result may be used, a simplearrangement being indicated in Fig. 2. Since member I I is generallyformed of wood, it is possible to sufficiently expand the end zones ofthe member as to frictionally engage the walls of the openings in theend members which receive the member end zones, by simply driving asmall nail I2 or the like into the ends of the member II, this beingillustrated in the drawing.

The member I I is shown as of different crosssection in the two formsshown, the member Ila in Fig. 1 having a circular cross-sectionalcontour, while in Fig. 3 the contour Ilb is shown with a square contour,one form of polygonal contour, these differences being for the purposeof meeting the conditions set up by the two different structures ofbottle holder units, as presently described. However, both forms ofmember II have the one characteristic that the bottle holder unit isslidable longitudinally of the member. This characteristic is employedto meet a number of conditions, a few of which are referred to. Forinstance, the width of the supporting surface may be such that theassemblage can occupy but one position thereon, but the surface itselfmay be such that a particular point in the length of the member II maynot accord with the most desirable position of the infant on suchsurface. With a fixed position, the infant would be required to occupythe more uncomfortable position, but with the present invention theinfant is placed in the most comfortable position and the bottle holderunit then moved lengthwise of the member II to place the bottle nipplein proper position for the feeding, it being understood that the bottleholder units shown will operate similarly at any position longitudinallyof member I I. Again, should an infant for any reason, restlessness orotherwise, lose the nipple before finishing the feeding, an attendant,or even the infant itself, could shift the holder to the new position,instead of requiring return of the infant to the former position. Inother words, the required change could be made of the holder unitwithout disturbing the infant.

The bottle holder unit I3 is formed with an embracing zone I3a, theupper portion of which embraces member II and which may be considered asthe head zone. This merges into an intermediate neck zone I322, thelower portion of which is expanded and shaped for proper connection withthe lower bottle clamping zone I30, the latter including a pair ofyieldable jaws I3d adapted to clamp the bottle between them, with thebottle axis normally extending transverse to the direction of length ofmember I I.

The Fig. 1 form of holder can be formed of any suitable material such asmetal or plastic, or even wood, with the jaws I3d more or less resilientthrough the use of resilient material or by a shaped spring formationI3e as shown in Fig. 5, the holder unit in this form, Fig. 1, however,being designed to be more or less rigid and unyielding, except as to theclamping jaws. The head zone I30. is formed with an openin for receivingmember II, the fit therebetween being such as to set up a sufficientfriction component that the holder unit can be moved either lengthwiseof or around member II for adjustment of position and will remain in theadjusted position. This not only permits the adjustments referred toabove, but also permits adjustment rotatively. This permits the meetingof either of dual conditions, viz: (l) to locate the bottle at the bestangle for the delivery of the milk to the infant, since the frictionalengagement enables the bottle holder to be positioned at any desiredangle, and (2) to enable the attendant to shift the bottle holder unitarcuately to a position above the member I I, when the infant has endedfeeding and probably has fallen asleep, the shift not arousing theinfant.

The second, or modified form shown in Figs. 3 to 5, differs from thefirst form through the fact that the connecting member I I is given apolygonal form in cross-section. It is shown as square, but may have agreater number of sides. The square form is preferred, although itprevents the small angular adjustments possible With the first form. Thelarger number of sides would permit rough adjustments, but would providedecreased ability to maintain the adjusted position as the number ofsides is increased. The member II in this form is also non-rotative.

A second distinguishing feature of the second form is the fact that thebottle holder unit, indicated at I4, is formed of resilient rubber. Itsshape is generally similar to that of the first form, having the openingof the head zone complemental to the cross section of the member I I,the jaw zone being reinforced by the resilient metallic formation I36shown in Fig. 5, the neck zone I5 being of reduced dimensions. Due tothe fact that the head zone is also of rubber, the holder can be swungarcuately, the walls of the head zone yielding as the holder is shiftedfrom side face to side face of member II. Because of the yieldability ofthe head zone, arcuate adustments are practically limited to moving theholder approximately to locate the bottle above member II.

However, the holder unit of the second form presents the advantage ofbeing able to move the neck zone torsionally, this being indicated inFig. 3, which shows the holder unit as slightly twisted so that thebottle no longer extends truly transverse to the direction of length ofmember swa H It is a position which is 'obtained only when the infant isfeeding. When the nipple is removed from the mouth of the infant, theholder returns to its normal transverse position. Should the infant losethe nipple by body movement, as by restlessness, before ending feeding,its hands can move laterally to :grasp the bottle and by drawing thenipple toward the infants new position, the neck zone of the holderbecomes twisted, permitting the infant to continue feeding and withoutrequiring shifting of the holder longitudinally of the member. Whenfinished feeding, release of the nipple permits the holder to return toits normal transverse position, thus removing the nipple from thevicinity of the infants mouth. The infant does not provide arcuateshifting of the holder about member II with this form, since theresiliency of the rubber would tend to return the holder into its normalposition relative to a side-of member II. The

attendant, however, can swing the holder through the semi-circular angleto place the bottle above member H, due to yieldability of the head zoneof the holder.

While each form of the assemblage provides side rails are comparativelyhigh, the holder unit must be of extended length. Due to theseconditions, the holder is made adjustable lengthwise ofthe holder unit,but the adjustment can only be by the attendant. While such structureswere serviceable to a limited extent, they could not be employed Wherethe support was a cradle or a baby carriage, or on the ground, thelength of the connecting member and the less height of the sidespreventing use of such assemblage except with the crib. To overcomethese and other objections, the art structures previously described,having the end frames or members and a shorter connecting member weredeveloped; these, in turn, presenting the disadvantages previouslypointed out, the ability to position the assemblage at any desired pointbeing deemed a satisfactory substitute for the adjustment of the earliertype longitudinally by the attendant.

The present invention, which provides both the end frame constructionconnected by the member II as well as the adjustment longitudinally,presents the general advantages of using a longer connecting member tomeet the conditions of the comfortable positioning by attendant servicethrough longitudinal adjustment, as above pointed out, and, in addition,provides for the conditions of a restless infant losing the nipple,being able to regain it by its own efforts, in the first form by slidingthe holder unit longitudinally (permitted through the short length ofthe holder) and in the second form by the torsional twisting of the neckof the holder unit, also of short length, as above explained. Inaddition, both forms can be swung arcuately at will by the attendant tocarry the bottle and holder to an upper position, in addition to whichthe first form permits accurate adjustment of the holder arcuately toposition the bottle and nipple at the most acceptable angle for feedingservice.

Since the bottle holding unit "extends downward from and below member II, when in feeding position with the bottle inclined sufficiently toproduce a draining eifect toward the nipple, and at the same time thenipple must be capable of extending into the mouth of the prone infanthaving the head .properly positioned for com"- fortable feeding action(head slightly raised), it is apparent that this will place member I!'at a considerable height above the infant and assemblage supportingsurface, with consequently ac'onsiderable distance factor in connectionwith the dimensions of the end frames. While these are shown astriangular with equal apical angles, it is the upright side dimensionsthat are actual 1y controlling in this respect, it being obvious thatthe base side need only have a length su-fficiently extended as toproperly support'the assemblage against upsetting or toppling, but notnecessarily equal to the upright dimez'isi'on's.

The important factor in this connection is that the sides preferablyextend at opposite angles so as to produce a symmetrical upper apicalzone capable of'prop'erl'y receiving the member II. The distance factorcan be determined on the basis that all mountings and movements of theholding unit and its bottle are above the axes of the end frames so thatif such axis be con sidered as the upper limits of the space requiredfor the torso of the infant, the positions of member l i and the lengthof the holding unit "can be readily determined. In other words, a lineexte'nding parallel with the member II and extending through such endframe axes, can represent the lower limits to which the holder unit andbottle can extend, this aff'ording ample space below the line for thepositioning of the infant as well as the movements of a restless infantwithin such space.

As will be understood from the drawings and the above description, theassemblage is comparatively simple in construction and thus reasonablein the cost of production, and at the same time is exceedingly efficientin service, being so formed as to permit positioning of the infant inits most comfortable position for feeding, and so manipulative as totend to prevent the rise of conditions such as to make the infantrestless. thus assuring the feeding activities under the most favorableconditions. Where the infant is restless or of restless type, theassemblage and its manipulative practices tend to prevent accentuationof the conditions, actually tending to reduce the conditions so as toprovide for quiet feeding. In other words, the assemblage is developedin such manner as to assure as far as possible that the infant feedingconditions will be made active in such way as to tend to quietnessrather than disturbing conditions, thus presenting the feedingactivities in such form as to render them most conducive to the welfareof the infant.

While I have herein disclosed several ways in which the invention may beplaced into practice, it will be readily understood that changes and/ormodifications therein may be found desirable or essential in meeting theexigencies of service or the individual desire of a user. I, therefore,reserve the right to make all such changes and/or modifications sodeemed essential or desirable insofar as the same may fall within thespirit and scope-of the invention as expressed in the accompanyingclaims, when broadly construed.

I claim:

1. In nursing bottle holding assemblages,

wherein an assemblage enables feeding of the infant with the latterlying prone on a supporting surface, said assemblage comprising a pairof similar end frames of triangular contour extending vertically inparallel spaced relation and rigidly connected in their upper apicalareas by an elongated normally non-rotative rigid connecting member ofuniform polygonal crosssection to form a bottle-supporting frame adaptedto straddle the prone infant with the connecting member spaced above thetorso of the infant, and a bottle holder unit mounted upon and normallydepending from said connecting member, said unit being formed generallyof resilient rubber with the formation including a head portion, a pairof bottle-holding jaws, and a neck portion connecting the jaws with thehead portion to form a unitary resilient configuration, said headportion having a laterally-extending opening complementally contoured toaccord with the cross-sectional contour of the frame connecting memberto thereby enable position adjustment of the unit lengthwise of theconnecting member while normally retaining the unit against movementrotatively on such member, said jaws being positioned to support thebottle with the bottle axis normally extending in approximatelytransverse relation to the direction of length of the connecting memberand below such member, said jaws being reinforced by a metallicresilient element dimensioned to combinedly embrace more than half ofthe length of the circumference of the bottle, the resiliency of therubber content of the unit, enabling torsional and twisting movements ofthe unit by the infant during feeding and enabling movement bodily ofthe unit rotatively on the connecting member to locate the unit inactivein reversed position above the membar.

2. An assemblage as in claim 2 characterized in that the neck portion ofthe unit is of reduced cross-section to thereby enable ready torsionaland twisting movements of the jaw portion by a restless infant duringfeeding without materially disturbing the general position of the unitin the assemblage.

3. A nursing bottle support comprising a pair of similar end frames oftriangular contour extending vertically in parallel spaced relation andrigidly connected in their upper apical areas by an elongated rigidconnecting member, said support adapted to straddle a prone infant withthe connecting member spaced above the prone infant, a resilient rubberbottle holder unit mounted upon and depending from said connec ingmember, said unit comprising a head portion, a pair of bottle holdingjaws and a neck portion connecting the jaws with the head portion, saidhead portion having a laterally extending opening complemental with thecontourof the connecting member, said neck portion being of reducedcross-section to permit twisting movements of the jaw portion.

WIN GATE BATTLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,151,920 Barton Aug. 31, 1915 1,315,621 Barlow Sept. 9, 19191,407,681 Saunders Feb. 21, 1922 2,201,257 Bell Feb. 3, 1939 2,514,134Mann July 4, 1950

